{TriedAndTasted} : Desi Roots Cafe

The food scene in Delhi is on an upgrade, with restaurateurs trying to find new alternatives to woo the city’s foodies who are ever so ready to experiment. Desi Roots Cafe in Saket is a one of a kind cafe serving fusion Indian food with fun ‘firangi’ twist.

The roots, and the heart of the cafe, as the name suggests are very much Indian. However, the fresh interpretation of our good ol’desi favourites is the USP of the cozy little cafe. The very first thing you notice on entering the vibrant space outside Saket’s Select Citywalk mall, are the peppy interiors. The decor uses many vintage elements of the Indian culture, like the signature household pickle jars, retro wall clocks, tin trunks, milk containers and recycled furniture painted to modernity. The quirky prints of the seat covers and stools add more colours to the ambience.

Coming to the food, everything on the menu is a fearless reconstruction of the Indian classics. Imagine Dhokla with kachumbar salad and a smoked watermelon slice, or a samosa being served inside out! Yes, the food at Desi roots is pleasantly bizzare. We started our afternoon with a Desi Champagne, the perfect summer concoction of Vodka, orange juice, apple juice, mint and sprite! The ‘Samosa deconstruct’ Salad has the crisp layers with the typical potato stuffing, sprinkled with chaat staples- the chutneys, sev and curd. The Dhokla Kachumbar Salad is mixed in watermelon juice and served with a slice of smoked watermelon and a mini bucket of buttermilk. It is a light start to the meal, that will ease you into the unsusual culinary sensibilities of the place. Next up, the Zimmikand Galawati Pate With Ulte Tawe ka Paratha and Sheermal bread came with a kulhad full of crisp parantha fingers with a silky yam dip served in a small glass jar.

Main course consisted of Sarso ka Saag and Makke ki roti (with gud ki dali moti moti, if I quote the menu) that came on little trucks. The saag lacked flavour, and was a little bland in my opinion. I liked Desi Root’s signature Black Daal and homely Aloo ki subzi with naan, that came in the next toy truck! For desserts, I had the Chilled Kheer and loved the texture! The star however, was the Badam Halwa Baklava served with Shrikhand that was the perfect ending to the meal. While leaving, we signed a lock onto the visitor’s wall of the cafe and were given its key as a memento.

Desi Roots gets full points for creativity and presentation from my side. The whole experience of eating at the cafe is fun and enjoyable with its pleasing decor and pretty-looking dishes. However, I do wish that it tries to add more flavour and richness to the food because that’s what Desiness is all about, isn’t it?

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Journalism graduate with a heart that wants to travel. Instagram addict. Aspiring Twitter celeb. Blogger, not a critic. Professional street shopper. Foodie on a budget. Fascinated by everything shiny. Dreamer. Something in making. For thoughts, feedback or collaborations, write to mahima.agarwal5@gmail.com